At the age of 23, sometime after his immigration from Prussia, Sol Franklin volunteered to serve in the Confederate Army.  His unit,  Company D - Hamer's Rifles of the 18th Regiment, was raised on April 19, 1861, in Yazoo City, Mississippi. Almost every battle fought by the regiment was in Virginia where in 1868, after the Civil war,  he married Susan Jane Griggs in Danville. Together they raised nine children. Until his death in 1889, he owned and operated a general store and served as Deputy Postmaster.

During his four years in the army he was shot and wounded four times. After the battle of Fredericksburg, December 11, 1862, the Eighteenth regiment, with the Seventeenth, were mentioned in the official report of General Lee for gallant conduct. Sol Franklin was shot and wounded in this battle.

  Sol Franklin

History of the Mississippi Eighteenth Infantry Regiment of the Confederate States Army and highlights from three battles Sol Franklin fought in and was shot and wounded

Excerpt from the History Channel on General William Barksdale who commanded four regiments including Sol Franklin's Eighteenth Regiment

Chronology of Actions of Mississippi Units and Sol Franklin's participation in the 18^th Infantry Regiment and its Campaigns, Battles, Hospitals and Skirmishes etc.

Sol Franklin Military Records

Map of CSA Hospital Danville, Virginia

Hospitals in the Civil war

Sol Franklin Head Stone